stelzmann



No. 613,608. Patented Nov. l, I898. H. STELZMANN &. C. JONAS. PROPELLING LAUNCHES BY WIND POWER.

(Application filed Sept. 8, 1896.)

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(No Model.)

WZMZJ 204 MM %z Patented Nov. I, I898. H. STELZMANN & C. JONAS.

PBOPELLING LAUNCHES BY WIND POWER.

(Applicatiog fllekl Sept. 8, 1896.) (N o M o d a I.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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PATENT HENRY STELZMANN AND CHARLES JONAS, OF VINELAND, FLORIDA; SAID JONAS ASSIGNOR TO SAID STELZMANN.

PROPELLING LAUNCHES BY VVIND-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,608, dated November 1, 1895).

Application filed September 8, 1896. Serial No. 605,160. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY SrELzMANN and CHARLES JONAS, citizens of the United States, residing at Vineland, in the county of 5 De Soto and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Device for Propelling Launches by Wind-Power, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

Our invention consists in utilizing the IQ power of the wind to rotate a propelling screw for moving launches with less expense and in such a manner as to greatly reduce the necessity for a particular knowledge of navigation and the danger of capsizing in strong winds.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 1 2 of Fig. 1 in connection with the entire mechanism of a launch.

Similarlettersrefertosimilarpartsthroughout both views.

The frame construction n supports the propelling machinery. The shaft a is rotated by fans I), referred to hereinafter. The propelling-shaft c is geared to shaft a through the gearing-wheel d, mounted on shaft a, and by one of the wheels f or e on shaft 0. For producing a forward or backward motion of the propellingscrew 71, the gearing-Wheels f 0 and e are to slide on shaft 0 by the use of a lever g, so that the gearing-wheels f or 6 can be put in connection with the gearing-wheel d, and if the motion need be stopped altogether the gearing-wheels f and c are to slide so that neither will touch the wheel d.

In addition to the use of gearing-wheels any other improved device,as friction-wheels, might be substituted for the rotation of shafts a with c. The fans b, previously referred to, are fastened to horizontal shafts it in rectangular fan-frames Z, mounted around shaft a. Each shaft 70 extends in one piece from the outer frame side, through shaft a, to the outer frame side of the opposite side in line and serves for two fans, which fans are fastened to shafts 7;, so that the one fan is in a vertical while the other is in a horizontal position. While one-half of the number of fans are forced by the wind to turn shaft a the other fans are returning against the wind. Each fan, being eccentrically divided by the horizontal shafts 70 into two areas, of which the upper is much smaller than the lower, is isolated from its frame except on the lower side, where it projects farther than the frame side. The horizontal shaft 70 and the lower frame side keep the fans in a vertical position when forced against the wind. The fans having in this way moved half the circle of their course meet with their other side against the wind, and as both port-ions of the fans areequallybalanced in weight they easily swing into a horizontal position,and thus come against the wind with but little resistance and assist the other fans of their shaft of the opposite frame to fall in a vertical position for receiving the force of the wind. A strong wire m is stretched tightly from fan-frame to fan-frame near shaft in to strengthen the fan-frames Z in their position and to keep the fans to move correctly in their allowed space.

The fans I), which are made out of light canvas or any other suitable material, are stretched on three or more parallel strips 0" and 1', which we may name fan-ribs. The fan-ribs r are to slide in any approved way on shaft 76 to or from fan-rib 1' and-fold in this way the canvas for rendering the fans inactive or to straighten it for their activity. For every fan is fastened to shaft a, above 80 the frame construction 02, a spool y, around which spool is wound a strong cord w. Both ends of said cord are guided upward, where they pass each through a double guiding-pulley and thence one at each side of the fan, along shaft 70. The cord end passes then through a small ring fastened on shaft is between the fans and the fan-frame, and both ends are fastened to the outer rib r. The spool y, having on its outside a rubber ring, can be turned either way by friction above or below said ring when shaft a is turning, and also said spool can be prevented from returning, caused through tightness of the cords when the fans are straightened out in such a 5 manner as the manufacturer might choose.

It will be seen that the above-described construction provides a simple and efficientwindwheel without requiring to be regulated in regard to the direction or a sudden change of the wind, and as the wind cannot effect any remarkable resistance on the fans against the progress and stability of the boat, because the fans turn freely around on a shaft, therefore the propelling mechanism is independent from the direction of the Wind and the boat more safe from capsizing by strong winds.

We are aware that prior to our invention wind-fans eccentrically fastened to horizontal shafts and balanced have been made for operating vertical Wind-wheel shafts, and also vertical wind-wheel shafts have been fitted to horizontal propelling-shafts with reversible gearing, and we do not claim such as our invention; but

What we do claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of wind-fans b, eccentrically fastened to horizontal shafts 7t, and balanced, the fans having much less area above the horizontal shafts than below, with rectangular fan-frames Z, the fans being isolated from their frames on their three upper sides and projecting over the lower frame side and being stretched on fan-ribs r and r to be put together or straightened out by cords w connected with a spool y, the fanframes being strengthened by wires m substantially as described.

2. The combination of wind-fans eccentrically fastened to horizontal shafts and balanced, operating in rectangular fan-frames with a vertical shaft a, substantially as clescribed.

3. The combination of wind-fans eccentrically fastened to horizontal shafts and balanced, operating in rectangular fan-frames fitted to a vertical shaft with a horizontal propelling-shaft c, of reversible gearing supported by a frame construction at, substantially as described.

HENRY STELZMANN. CHARLES JONAS. \Vitnesses to the signature of Henry Stelzmann:

JAMES A. PARKER, HENRY OBERG. Witnesses to the signature of Charles Jonas:

GEORGE GOMPERTZ, MICHAEL Ro'rrens. 

